New Mas Band Launches Tonight As Fantasy Announces Its Exit From Mas.

One of Trinidad and Tobago’s signature top tiered Mas bands, Fantasy Carnival has announced its departure from the Mas business. In a media release, the band’s management indicated that its team will now switch its focus to other projects.

Introducing Harem…

Tonight, as one band’s journey ends, another certainly begins. Harem Carnival, a Mas band owned by Ryan D’Arcy and Alberto Vargas, launches at the VAS lounge in Newtown.

Organizers say the band was created out of a concern over Carnival’s general development. A number of renowned designers including Sonia Mack, Seatara & Stef Kalloo, Aaron Schneider & Rainer Ruiz, stand with the new carnival Mas band and as a team, their primary goal is to create meaningful costumes.

Ebuzztt has learnt that the Harem team is receiving guidance from Richard Affong, a veteran masman, and creator of bands such as Barbarossa and Savage – his overall goal being the marriage of modern mas with that of yesteryear.

The theme for the band’s inaugural presentation tonight is Harem Festival: Celebrating the Pleasure of Love and Life. There will be five costume sections and the band will enter the medium band realm of competition. Another plus to the new all inclusive band’s credit is the fact that costumes will all be manufactured locally. Ebuzztt was also told that Harem’s mission is to give back to Trinidad and Tobago via the sale of each costume with part proceeds being contributed to a local NGO in 2020.

Tonight’s band launch starts at 8pm and ends at 3am with tickets being sold for $250.

So…TMZ Says Rihanna Isn’t Pregnant.

Maybe she had a heavy dinner on Thursday night but despite speculation that led to an avalanche of media reports about Rihanna’s possible pregnancy, the rumor’s been shut down.

In a story today, US entertainment portal, TMZ said sources close to the Barbadian superstar informed them that the “Man Down” singer is not with child.

Separately, soca heavyweight Machel Montano was among celebrities who attended Rihanna’s 5th Annual Diamond Ball on Thursday. Also in the mix were Cardi B who has Trinbagonian heritage and Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley. On social media, Mottley proudly paid respect to Rihanna pointing to her philanthropic efforts. “Her legacy is going to be global, but I think it’s also going to very much be colored by her Barbadian upbringing and the values that she received while she grew up and was nurtured in our country,” she wrote.

Montano meanwhile expressed his personal satisfaction for being a part of the charitable event. He also posted a photo taken with Rihanna at the event, thanking her for her having him and bringing the Island vibes to the Diamond Ball.

What a Friday! There’s speculation today that singer, businesswoman and philanthropist, Barbados’ Rihanna, may be pregnant. The artist has not confirmed it but at this very moment, the buzz surrounding this speculation is on overdrive.

Rihanna on stage during a performance with Pharell.

Rihanna appeared at the Essence Diamond Ball last night donning a Givenchy Haute Couture mermaid gown and toward her mid area, a small pooch was pretty visible. Added to that visual, the entertainer, in an interview made the comment, “I’m a black woman. I came from a black woman, who came from a black woman, who came from a black woman and I’m going to give birth to a black woman.” She had been expressing the greatness of black women.

FILE PHOTO: Rihanna with her beau.

Rihanna has been in a pretty quiet relationship for some time with billionaire Saudi Arabian businessman Hassan Jameel. Hassan is a Saudi Arabian business man and the deputy president and vice chairman of his family’s charitable company that organizes programs that focus on “the social, cultural, educational, and economic development of individuals and communities in the Middle East region and beyond,” according to its official website.

Rihanna’s 5th annual Diamond Ball, benefitted The Clara Lionel Foundation– a foundation the Barbadian Grammy Award winner started to support and fund education and emergency response programs around the world. The foundation is presently assisting with Hurricane Dorian relief in the Bahamas.

Check out what Rihanna said during her interview with an Essence reporter :